Nasal implants and systems and methods of use

Abstract

Described are implants for placing in a body, tools for delivering the implants, and systems and methods for using implants and tools for placing in a body and more particularly to nasal implants, tools for delivering nasal implants, and systems and methods for using such implants and tools. A tool may include a hand-held implant delivery device that cuts, holds, moves, orients, inserts, or shapes an implant. An implant may be a biodegradable, longitudinal implant that may be oriented for implantation by an implant delivery device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of implanting an implant into a nasal tissue of a patient, the implant comprising a first end including a resiliently deformable portion configured to have a contracted first shape with a non-circular cross-section and an expanded second shape, the method comprising:
 providing the implant in the contracted first shape close to a distal end of a delivery conduit of a housing, the delivery conduit comprising an interior orienting portion with a cross-sectional shape configured to orient the implant relative to the delivery conduit, wherein the implant comprises a rod-shaped implant and the resiliently deformable portion comprises a plurality of tines connected to and extending from the rod-shaped implant; 
 piercing a nasal tissue with a piercing end of the delivery conduit by moving the delivery conduit through the nasal tissue; 
 advancing the implant out of the delivery conduit and/or retracting the delivery conduit to thereby expand the implant to the expanded second shape and to leave the implant in place in the nasal tissue, wherein the expanded second shape of the resiliently deformable portion corresponds to an orientation of the implant within the delivery conduit orientating portion; and 
 removing the delivery conduit from the patient. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resiliently deformable portion comprises two tines. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the resiliently deformable portion comprising the two tines and a remainder of the implant comprise a same material. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: holding the implant near the distal end of the delivery conduit when the implant is in the delivery conduit. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: providing a friction fit between the implant and the delivery conduit to hold the implant in the delivery conduit. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery conduit comprises a needle selected from a group consisting of a 14 gauge, a 16 gauge, or an 18 gauge needle and the implant is configured to sit in the needle. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: placing the implant into the delivery conduit through a window along a length of a delivery tool, the window configured to accept the implant into the delivery conduit. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the delivery conduit comprises an ellipse. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the implant comprises a plurality of repeating features. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises a plurality of ribs with alternating raised regions and depressed regions. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises a first end feature and a second end feature different from the first end feature. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first end feature comprises a rounded end. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises a biodegradable material. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises a biocompatible, biodegradable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) or poly-D-lactic acid (PDLA). 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant is configured to provide an implant flexural rigidity between 2.5e −6  N-m 2  and 1.5e −5  N-m 2 . 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising advancing a stylet within the delivery conduit to move the implant distally within the delivery conduit. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the implant is a distal end of the implant. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: engaging the implant with lateral cartilage. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: engaging the implant with septal cartilage. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 releasing a user-controlled safety mechanism to thereby allow movement of the implant; 
 
       and advancing the implant further to the distal end of the delivery conduit; and
 advancing the implant out of the delivery conduit and/or retracting the delivery conduit by actuation of an actuation mechanism. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: anchoring the implant to the nasal tissue when the implant is in place in the nasal tissue. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: supporting the nasal tissue with the implant. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 1 , wherein advancing the implant out of the delivery conduit and/or retracting the delivery conduit includes pushing the implant out of the delivery conduit. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: loading the implant into the housing. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: loading the implant into the delivery conduit such that the implant is in the contracted first shape. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: advancing the implant through the delivery conduit until the implant is close to the distal end of the delivery conduit. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resiliently deformable portion and a remainder of the implant comprise a same material. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of ribs are circumferential ribs. 
     
     
       29. A method of implanting an implant into a nasal tissue of a patient, the implant comprising a first end including a resiliently deformable portion configured to have a contracted first shape with a non-circular cross-section and an expanded second shape, the method comprising:
 providing the implant in the contracted first shape close to a distal end of a delivery conduit of a housing, the delivery conduit comprising an interior orienting portion with a cross-sectional shape configured to orient the implant relative to the delivery conduit; 
 piercing a nasal tissue with a piercing end of the delivery conduit by moving the delivery conduit through the nasal tissue; 
 advancing the implant out of the delivery conduit and/or retracting the delivery conduit to thereby expand the implant to the expanded second shape and to leave the implant in place in the nasal tissue, wherein the expanded second shape of the resiliently deformable portion corresponds to an orientation of the implant within the delivery conduit orientating portion; and 
 removing the delivery conduit from the patient, 
 wherein the resiliently deformable portion comprises two tines and the expanded second shape includes each end of the two tines pointing from the first end of the implant away from a second end of the implant that opposes the first end of the implant. 
 
     
     
       30. A method of implanting an implant into a nasal tissue of a patient, the implant comprising a first end including a resiliently deformable portion configured to have a contracted first shape with a non-circular cross-section and an expanded second shape, the method comprising:
 providing the implant in the contracted first shape close to a distal end of a delivery conduit of a housing, the delivery conduit comprising an interior orienting portion with a cross-sectional shape configured to orient the implant relative to the delivery conduit; 
 piercing a nasal tissue with a piercing end of the delivery conduit by moving the delivery conduit through the nasal tissue; 
 advancing the implant out of the delivery conduit and/or retracting the delivery conduit to thereby expand the implant to the expanded second shape and to leave the implant in place in the nasal tissue, wherein the expanded second shape of the resiliently deformable portion corresponds to an orientation of the implant within the delivery conduit orientating portion; and 
 removing the delivery conduit from the patient, 
 wherein the resiliently deformable portion of the expanded second shape points from the first end of the implant away from a second end of the implant that opposes the first end of the implant.